-

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Why?

A couple of forecasting services are out with their summer hurricane season forecasts. Both predict a below normal season.

You have a better chance of making a more accurate prediction by throwing at a dartboard.

Some of my best friends are meteorologists, and I apologize in advance.

Weather patterns change quickly. While we can look at long term trends, jet streams, ocean water temperatures, polar ice caps, etc., saying above or below normal hurricane activity seems like a guess, at best.

Some recent predictions called for active hurricane seasons. Thankfully, the US hasn't received a good slam in two years.

That swings us in to climate change. The Obama administration came out with a report recently that said the planet is warming, and steps have to be taken to reverse the trend. Greenhouse gas emissions is apparently to blame.

I don't think that anyone will disagree that the climate is changing.

There is room for debate, however, as to the cause, and if it's just a natural thing the planet goes through.